"We did the garage sales in the spring. This is the second year. We encourage people to have their garage sale and then, the next week we have the free large-item drop-off," Westland Mayor William Wild said. "People have learned about it — it's like a well-oiled machine."

Last year, the large-item drop-off event serviced 585 vehicles, collecting and disposing of 480 yards or over 40 tons of large items.

The city also offers a pre-registered pickup of large items. Volunteers picked up items of 54 registered homes for seniors or individuals with physical disabilities.

"The court (community service) workers went out with a trailer plus DPS," Wild said. Anyone needing help with a large item can call the mayor's office at 734-467-3200.

The permit free garage sales and in particular the free large-item drop-off developed in response to rising costs and changes in the city's trash hauling services. Another option discussed — a free citywide bulk-item curbside pickup — would have cost about $100,000, Wild said, compared to $15,000 for the drop-off program, including payroll and landfill tipping fees.

Due to drops in the prices for copper and other metals, the city no longer has a company recycling electronics but is looking for a replacement, Wild said.

"Right outside the recycling center, we get a lot of things like refrigerators that we could have recycled," he said. "We will have to handle those with the household hazardous waste."

The rain dates for the permit-free garage sale are Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16. The DPS is located at 37137 Marquette between Wayne Road and Newburgh.